Did you play?

Premier Sponsors

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our privacy policy which includes details of cookie usage. Hide this notice

Beginning and Novice Fiddlers

Join This Group

I am going to try and post things that have helped me along the way and I hope others do the same.

158 Members, Created 7/1/2011 -

Administrators: brya31 (owner)

< Back to Home

From fiddlerd on 3/22/2012 7:34:49 AM

Hey nancymae did you play for your family? If you did let us know!!

9 Comments
	nancymae says: 3/22/2012 8:05:36 AM I DID play....it was warm (80 degrees), so it was PERFECT for a backyard barbeque! After we ate, I got out the fiddle and played....I was pretty nervous..only played for my teacher, my hubby and his nurse so far, so it took me a bit to get going. I tuned, did a couple of scales...and started playing. (my reduced warm up time made me more nervous too) Also, when playing music outside, even with your music nicely housed in page protectors in a good weighted binder, BRING CLOTHES PINS OR BINDER CLIPS! Even in a small wind...those pages are going to fly around. So, I ended up playing things that I knew by heart. I played Danny Boy...with vibrato and slides!!! Connactman's Rambles, Britches full of Stiches, Down by Sally's Gardens, along with Hector the Hero...sort of a medley....only becuase I was nervous and just kept on playing. Oh, and the Foggy Dew, Devil's Dream and Irish Washerwoman. I played my tin whistle too.. Did a few slides in Danny Boy and Salley's Gardens, drones in Salleys'. Hit all my notes on Devils Dream--yeah! Tried to get them into the beat and brought my bodhran, tried to teach someone how to use it...my one sister tried to play with Connaughtman, but she couldn't get it. My pre-teen great nephews didn't even move from the couch...so that was too bad...I wanted to get them into the music. So, all in all....I made some mistakes in my playing, a few bad notes...mainly because I was trying to follow my moving sheet music,...when I did the songs by heart, I was ok. I am calling this a sucess due to the fact that I don't play in front of anyone..and when I try to record myself, I'm too nervous to play...my fingers get like spaghetti noodles! Next stop---recording myself!!! Can't wait for next year....I have made great strides over the past year...next year will be even better! Thanks for asking!!! Now I hope I will be able to take my fiddle up to a music festival this summer...and not feel like I want to hide behind a tree!!!!
	fiddlerd says: 3/22/2012 9:39:39 AM Fantastic!! You have taken a big step. Each time you play in front of people you will relax more and more. It takes putting yourself out there to get over the hump. Congrats!!
	nancymae says: 3/22/2012 10:35:45 AM Thanks fiddlerd!! This summer there will be actual musicians coming up here and I will jam with them...I want to be prepared!! Playing music is sooo much fun!!
	stew692 says: 3/22/2012 11:31:19 AM That's awesome! I've played at beginner sessions, but I usually forget the tunes and just pick up where I can. I'm thinking about bringing my fiddle with me to our Easter family get together, you've inspired me.
	nancymae says: 3/22/2012 11:38:59 AM Go for it stew692!!! It sure was alot of fun....I had never heard my fiddle outside before...very different sound, and I loved it!! Please keep us informed! Don't forget clothespins should you use sheet music!
	cmoore says: 3/23/2012 3:07:25 AM It takes great courage to play in front of people and it sounds like you had a great time sharing with your family. Keep it up and I agree, fiddle music played by memory is much more natural. It also lets you play anywhere and anytime you want. I once played for some horses at the ranch I ride at. Never could do that with sheets.
	nancymae says: 3/24/2012 5:20:09 PM Thank you cmoore...I hope I can get to the point where I have memorized alot of music....do you think it could happen to a 58 year old????
	nfritzjr says: 3/29/2012 11:26:08 AM You played with vibrato? In front of the family?? awsome!!! I'm still trying to make the notes sound correct and in tune:-) Congrates, did you say 1.5 years of playing? Very cool. I try to memorize the tunes that way I can concentrate on the fingering & sound quality. Still need more practice. Maybe write down the first 3 measures and than try to play the rest from memory. My instructor has a steno pad with the first few measures written down. I find that since I have been "playing" my memory has gotten a little better. I'm at it less than a year. I wonder if my hearing will get better in time too?? hahha maybe in 2yrs
	nancymae says: 3/29/2012 12:00:26 PM Hi Nfritzier! Thanks for your comments! You know...I had a huge problem with playing in tune...and my teacher noticed that my posture changed over the course of my playing in one session. I started slumping!! So she showed me how I should be sitting..basically with my left hand and peg box end of the fiddle about parallel to the ground. My hubby suggested that I move my music up...so it is a bit higher than eye level to keep my posture right. And after that..my posture staying the same throughout my session, my notes were right on...I was shocked!! Try and it see if you are moving or changing your posture while you are playing. Memorization--I'll bet you know more than you think...after playing a tune a bunch, you can't help but memorizing it. The vibrato thing came after my teacher suggested a few exercises and I purchased the VIVA VIBRATO book..which Shar sells. I was vibratoing that first weekend!!! Thanks again!
Post a Comment
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.

	NEW PRICE- Tonareli Ultralight Violin/Fiddle Case, Olive - OLDER MODEL - ROUGH BUT GOOD Linked by charlie.walden 7 years ago
	Fiddler Magazine Back Issues (30 issues) Linked by charlie.walden 7 years ago
	003 Pop Goes The Weasel with Chris & Patt (100 Jigs!) Linked by charlie.walden 8 years ago
	"Get Up In The Cool" with Cameron DeWhitt & Charlie Walden Linked by charlie.walden 8 years ago
	How to improvise on the fiddle Linked by brae 9 years ago: check out this awesome fiddle lesson on how t improvise...
	Red Fox Waltz - Group Play Along by Charlie Walden & Patt Plunkett Linked by charlie.walden 9 years ago
Blog Entry: KDHX Folk School Fiddle Workshop - April 2016 with Patt & Possum Linked by charlie.walden 9 years ago
	Lamplighter's Hornpipe - Group Play Along with Charlie Walden & Patt Plunkett Linked by charlie.walden 9 years ago
Blog Entry: Vesta Johnson - Missouri Fiddler Linked by charlie.walden 9 years ago
	Liz Amos Fiddle Workshop Part 2 - Bethel 2016 Linked by charlie.walden 9 years ago